Quiz: How Well Do You Remember These Hair Bands?: HowStuffWorks

How Well Do You Remember These Hair Bands?

ENTERTAINMENT

By: Ian Fortey

6 Min Quiz

Image: Capitol Records

About This Quiz

Picture it. A screaming crowd. A smoke machine. A veritable cornucopia of leather pants, candy-colored guitars and enough hairspray to bug-bomb a hotel. That's hair metal, man! These are the bands that stormed to the front of rock and roll at the end of the 1970s and all through the 1980s. They helped truly define the rock star image of a hard-partying bad boy with suspect fashion sense and no regard for rules of polite behavior.

Now the real question is do you know hair bands like you think you know hair bands? Can you listen to the opening chords of a rock ballad and know right away if it's Whitesnake or White Lion? If you take this quiz, are you going to rock it like a hurricane or will you be livin' on a prayer by the time it's all over? Can you channel your inner Poison and root out every single Def Leppard hit? it's going to take a true hair rock aficionado to pull this one off. But if you think you're up to the task, then you better best out your eyeshadow and teased bangs and prove. Take the quiz and go down in hair metal history!

What intense band got aggressive in their hit "We're Not Gonna Take It?"

Ratt

Twisted Sister

Motley Crue

Whitesnake

Twisted Sister, fronted by singer Dee Snider, recorded a Christmas album many years after "We're Not Gonna Take It" was released featuring "O Come All ye Faithful" sung to the same tune.

Advertisement

What band gave us "The Final Countdown?"

Europe

Winger

The Scorpions

Trixter

"The Final Countdown" by Europe was not a particularly well-liked song when it came out. That said, thanks to the show "Arrested Development," it received a second lease on life and became rather popular.

Advertisement

This single was the biggest hit ever for the band Van Halen.

Sweet Child O' Mine

Photograph

Dr. Feelgood

Jump

David Lee Roth wrote the song "Jump" after having a single phrase stuck in his head. "Go ahead and jump" were the words that inspired the whole song. He wrote the rest after listening to the instrumental track.

Advertisement

What band sang the song "Round and Round?"

The Scorpions

Ratt

White Lion

Skid Row

Ratt is one of the longest-lived hair metal bands, with origins dating back to the early 1970s and plans for an album all the way up to 2018. The video for the song "Round and Round" featured comedian Milton Berle in drag.

Advertisement

Def Leppard had a big hit with a song that asked you to pour some what on them?

Water

Oil

Sugar

Mayo

"Pour Some Sugar on Me" came out in 1987 and rocked it all the way to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song almost didn't even make it onto the album until the band's producer told them he felt they needed another track.

Advertisement

What's the name of Guns N' Roses iconic lead guitarist?

Slash

The Edge

Pete Townshend

Dave Grohl

Slash was born in England as Saul Hudson and rose to fame with Guns N' Roses throughout the '80s. Slash's appeal came from not just his incredible guitar playing but also his fashion sense. Few people ever actually saw his face since he constantly wore a top hat that kept him obscured behind his own hair.

Advertisement

What band sang "You Give Love a Bad Name?"

Tesla

Bon Jovi

Extreme

Helix

Bon Jovi was fronted by Jon Bon Jovi. Jon Bon Jovi is actually the singer's stage name. He was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. in New Jersey and was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame back in 2009.

Advertisement

"Here I Go Again" was a big hit for what band?

Lita Ford

Helix

Whitesnake

Slaughter

Whitesnake was a British rock band and one of their biggest hits was "Here I Go Again." The video featured actress Tawny Kitaen mostly just looking sexy around some cars intercut with the band performing.

Advertisement

Who taught us that nothing would last forever in the cold November Rain?

Warrant

Guns N' Roses

Winger

Poison

Guns N' Roses proved to be one of the biggest acts of the 1980s but problems within the band between lead singer Axl Roses and lead guitarist Slash as well as the other band members eventually led to the band falling apart. They swore they'd never work together again for many years until they eventually worked together again.

Advertisement

The Scorpions were going to rock you like what natural disaster?

A hurricane

A tidal wave

A mudslide

An avalanche

"Rock You Like a Hurricane" by the Scorpions has been an enduring hit that has been co-opted by numerous sports teams including the Miami Hurricanes, the Carolina Hurricanes, the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes and the Chicago Blackhawks.

Advertisement

The band Poison told us that every rose had what?

Petals

A pleasant odor

Honey bees

Its thorn

"Every Rose Has Its Thorn" is one of the biggest power ballads of the '80s and the only number-one hit the band Poison ever recorded. It was covered in 2010 by Miley Cyrus.

Advertisement

This Los Angeles band wanted you to come on and feel the noise.

Dokken

Tesla

Warrant

Quiet Riot

Quiet Riot's biggest hit was "Cum on Feel the Noize" and it was actually a cover version of a song by a British band called Slade. It was so successful for Quiet Riot they actually covered additional Slade songs later on.

Advertisement

What kind of pie did the band Warrant really seem to like in their famous song?

Cherry Pie

Lemon Meringue Pie

Key Lime Pie

Apple Pie

"Cherry Pie" is arguably the most famous song the band Warrant ever recorded. Ironically, most of the band members didn't like the song that much and had to reluctantly acknowledge it's mostly the reason they're famous.

Advertisement

"Turn Up the Radio" was a hit song from what band?

Dokken

Motley Crue

Autograph

Cinderella

Autograph enjoyed some moderate success throughout the 1980s but none of their singles ever got as bit as "Turn Up the Radio.'" The band eventually broke up but most of the original members reunited again in 2013.

Advertisement

Who was the Sister that Night Ranger is famous for singing about?

Sister Wife

Mister Sister

Sister Brother

Sister Christian

"Sister Christian" was Night Ranger's biggest hit and was actually inspired by the younger sister of the band's drummer. He wrote the song after going home one weekend for a visit and being surprised by home much his little sister had grown up.

Advertisement

"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" was a cover song that proved to be this band's biggest hit.

Tesla

Great White

Mr. Big

Nitro

"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" was the biggest hit for the band Great White. The song had actually been written and recorded previously by British musician Ian Hunter, and then again by Shaun Cassidy.

Advertisement

"Burning Like a Flame" was a hit for what band?

Kix

Cinderella

W.A.S.P.

Dokken

Dokken formed in Los Angeles in the late 1970s and had most of their success in the 1980s. If you're not sure what the name means, it's actually just the last name of Don Dokken, who started the band.

Advertisement

Skid Row's most famous song was about a teen being sent to prison for murder. What was it?

18 and Life

Unskinny Bop

Girls, Girls, Girls

Detroit Rock City

"18 and Life" was a song that told the story of a kid named Ricky who was 18 years old who goes to jail for murder. It made it all the way to number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Advertisement

One of Winger's biggest hits was a song about being headed for what?

Shore

Disaster

Florida

A heartbreak

"Headed for a Heartbreak" came out in 1989 and was one of Winger's biggest hits. Kip Winger, the band's lead singer, felt that this was the band's definitive song.

Advertisement

Mr. Big's biggest hit was what?

Rock the Casbah

To Be With You

Take On Me

Paradise City

"To Be With You" was a massively popular power ballad that probably got played at every single school dance in 1992. The song charted in 20 different countries and hit number 1 in the US.

Advertisement

"Nobody's Fool" was a big hit for this band.

Cinderella

Styx

Def Leppard

L.A. Guns

Cinderella was discovered by Jon Bon Jovi and managed to sell 30 million albums in a 3-year span without ever having a hit single at the time. That was a feat no one in rock music had ever done before.

Advertisement

"More Than Words" was a huge ballad for what band?

Poison

Extreme

Firehouse

Tesla

Extreme was one of those bands that found itself in the awkward position of being most well known for a song that was quite a bit different than their usual sound. "More than Words" was much softer than the rest of their music.

Advertisement

Bret Michaels was the man under the hair of what huge '80s band?

Warrant

Guns n' Roses

Poison

Def Leppard

As the lead singer of Poison, Bret Michaels sold over 40 million albums around the world. Like many musicians, he adapted a stage name from his real name which is Bret Michael Sychak.

Advertisement

Mötley Crüe wants you to go see a doctor. What's the doctor's name?

Dr. Feelgood

Dr. Jones

Dr. Oz

Dr. Beat

If the titular character in the song "Dr. Feelgood" doesn't sound like a doctor you should trust, you're right. The song was written about bass player Nikki Sixx's drug dealer.

Advertisement

This band was founded by twin brothers Matthew and Gunnar.

KISS

Ratt

Nelson

Bon Jovi

Nelson's biggest hit was "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" which rocketed all the way to number one on the Billboard charts. The song was inspired by supermodel Cindy Crawford.

Advertisement

The drummer of this band lost his arm in a car accident in 1984.

Warrant

Guns n' Roses

Winger

Def Leppard

Def Leppard's drummer Rick Allen suffered a devastating car accident that resulted in his arm being amputated. Amazingly, he not only recovered, but he was also able to continue drumming with the band.

Advertisement

"Honestly" was a huge hit for this Christian rock band.

Stryper

Alice Cooper

KISS

Hanoi Rocks

Stryper may have been a hair metal band but their music was still Christian. The name of the band comes from this Bible quote - "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed."

Advertisement

Vince Neil, Tommy Lee, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx made up what hugely popular band?

Whitesnake

Guns n' Roses

Mötley Crüe

Dokken

One of the most famous bands of the 1980s, Motley Crue's most famous member is arguably drummer Tommy Lee, who was a tabloid favorite during his marriage to actress Pamela Anderson.

Advertisement

Sebastain Bach rose to fame fronting what band?

Scorpions

Quiet Riot

Warrant

Skid Row

Sebastian Bach's real name is Sebastian Bierk. Not only did he front the band Skid Row for many years, but he's also had success on Broadway performing in "Jekyll & Hyde" as well as "The Rocky Horror Show."

Advertisement

One of the biggest rock bands of all time was fronted by both David Lee Roth and also Sammy Hagar.

Van Halen

Styx

Autograph

Poison

Van Halen was named after Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex Van Halen. Neither Van Halen brother was a lead singer, though, so vocal duties went to David Lee Roth until he was replaced by Sammy Hagar.

Advertisement

The single "Rock You" was the biggest hit of what Canadian band?

Skid Row

Helix

L.A. Guns

Nitro

Helix may not have achieved a ton of commercial success in the United States, but they did make a dent into the Canadian market. Their single "Rock You" hit the Canadian Billboard charts and became something of a rock anthem.

Advertisement

Dokken performed the theme song to the third part of what iconic 80's horror movie franchise?

Nightmare on Elm Street

Friday the 13th

Halloween

Hellraiser

The song "Dream Warriors" was written as the theme song for part 3 of the Freddy Krueger epic "Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors." The video actually featured Freddy, so that's something.

Advertisement

These guys wanted to Rock n' Roll All Night. Who are they?

Poison

KISS

Guns n Roses

Ratt

Few bands will ever be as big as KISS, which has dominated rock music since the 1970s. The band is iconic for their incredible stage shows, complete with costumes and face make-up.

The song "Rock of Ages," which is arguably one of the biggest rock songs of all time, starts with the words "gunter gleiben glauchen globen" that literally don't mean a thing, in case you were wondering.

Advertisement

What band wrote "Paradise City" in the back of a van?

Winger

Guns N' Roses

Hanoi Rocks

Van Halen

Guns N' Roses were on their way back from a gig when Slash started playing a riff. The rest of the band joined in and Axl Rose busted out the famous chorus line, all pretty much off the top of their heads.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Get smarter every day! Subscribe & get 1 quiz every week.

Playing quizzes is free! We send trivia questions and personality tests every week to your inbox. By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our
privacy policy
and confirming that you are 13 years old or over.